Mission Hospital was founded in Mission Viejo in 1971 and has continued to develop new programs and services to meet the ever changing needs of the community. In 1993, Mission Hospital partnered with CHOC Children’s to provide pediatric services and a year later, became a member of the St. Joseph Health network of care. In 2009, Mission Hospital expanded its geographic footprint to include south Orange County’s coast line by acquiring Mission Hospital Laguna Beach.

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Mission Hospital has an award-winning staff that is leading the way in medical ingenuity. Our accomplishments have led to such awards as the Outstanding Achievement Award for the Commission on Cancer in 2008 – causing us to be one of 66 hospitals in the entire nation to be honored. Combining care for the mind, body and spirit, we take a unique approach to every individual patient.

The Mission Hospital Foundation embodies the Spirit of Giving by building lifelong relationships with community members and raising funds to support Mission Hospital.
Mission Hospital Foundation will be the critical force in supporting Mission Hospital's vision to serve the community with the most advanced diagnostic care in the world.

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Ho Ho No: How to Avoid Holiday Blues

12-17-2017Contributor: Aung Thu, MD

The holidays are a bit like birthdays and the Fourth of July. You’re
just expected to feel good and spread good cheer. But for many people,
the sight of Christmas lights or the sound of Christmas carols can trigger
dark feelings and negative moods. If you’re one of these individuals
who must try hard to beat the holiday blues, there are ways to help yourself.

“People often feel they’re supposed to be joyful at this time,” says
Aung Thu, MD, medical director of chemical dependency at Mission Hospital, Laguna Beach.
“As a result, there’s an imbalance between expectations and
how one is actually feeling. This situation can really heighten anxiety
and stress, leading to depression.”

The best way to avoid feeling down is to have a strategy for addressing
common triggers. Here are a few good tips:

Seek the sun – Sometimes it’s not the festivities, but the season itself.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) happens when people react negatively
to decreasing sun and colder temperatures. Unlike holiday blues, SAD can
actually last for months. While some people do well just ensuring they
experience a few hours of sun each day, others need light therapy and
medication to get through the winter season.

Ditch perfection – It’s easy to be overwhelmed when being bombarded with pressure
to find the right gift, throw the perfect party or even wear the ultimate
holiday outfit. Remember no one has a perfect life, no matter what the
magazines tout. Try having an imperfect holiday with friends. The relief
of silly gifts, ugly sweaters and frozen pizza may put the merry back
in your holiday.

Don’t over-commit – The weeks preceding Christmas can be filled with the stress and
tension of too many activities. Families with children are especially
at risk, as school plays, parties and outings all pile up on the calendar.
And that’s not to mention time spent running back and forth to shopping
malls. Be careful how you spend your hours during these busy days. Although
you should attend your child’s holiday play, you don’t have
to be the director or the stage designer. And enjoy the wonders of the
Internet for stress-free shopping.

Avoid volatile family situations – Yes, holidays are a time to visit with family members, but sometimes
that lands you in the middle of a tension-filled situation. If you see
a family spat brewing, protect yourself by staying neutral or helping
out in the kitchen away from the fray. Or better yet, avoid the situation
altogether by not attending events where you know trouble is looming.
Instead, spend time with the friends and family members who welcome you
and are kind to one another.

Allow yourself to grieve – For some, holidays are not about too much family, but feelings
of extreme loss and loneliness. It’s not uncommon for people to
feel angry that the loved one is gone. Others feel guilty for having fun.
Grief is experienced in a number of ways, but most important is that you
are able to talk about it, either with a close friend or a support group,
which can prove a lifeline for this time of year.

Watch your habits – Whether you tend to drink, shop or eat too much when you’re
stressed, the holiday season can be a risky time for losing control. Keep
lists of what you eat and spend so you can gauge when you teeter on over-indulgence.
The same goes for alcohol – limit your consumption because drinking
too much can increase negative feelings and exacerbate depression. Seek
out activities that don’t involve shopping, eating or drinking –
like watching ice skaters, viewing holiday lights or playing in the snow.

Try something new – If you dread celebrating the holidays in the same way you have
for years, try starting some new traditions. Join friends and family members
in helping others, either by serving holiday meals, cleaning up the beach
or spending time with seniors who are alone. Whatever you do, it will
make you feel better about yourself and make your holidays that much more special.

The bottom line is to understand what causes your negative feelings and
do your best to improve the situation. If you find you are simply too
overwhelmed or suffering from depression, seek professional advice.